Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 113th Session

FUNDS FOR INNOVATIONS AND PREPARATION OF IPA PROJECTS 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to allocate KM 72,000.00 from the current budget for co-financing of projects within “Support to Technical Culture and Innovations in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2014”.

A grant intended for 20 beneficiaries active in innovations and faculties for certain technical projects in individual amounts ranging of KM 1,000,000 to KM 14,000.00, as much was allocated for the Association of Innovators of BIH for promotion of BIH innovations at international fairs and fairs in BIH this year.

A decision was made on allocation of KM 223,000.00 from the “Programmes for Preparation of Projects and Potential Candidates for EU Funds-FP17” Grant for 2014, thereby enduring funds for 15 ben3ficiaries, among which there are universities, faculties, agencies, institutes and associations. Additional KM 50,000.00 was approved to the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BIH for preparation of BIH participation at a new programme of the European Union for science and research “HORISON 2020”.

All grants beneficiaries are due to report their purposeful spending of the received grant funds to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

 

IPA FUNDS FOR JOINT BIH-SERBIA PROJECTS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Financial Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Commission within a Cross-border Programme Bosnia and Herzegovina - Serbia under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance for 2013, with basics for its conclusion.

The Programme value is EUR 2,352,942.00, of out which EUR 1,176,4781.00 are intended for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aim of the Programme is to approximate people and economies through improvement of effectiveness and competitiveness of economic, rural and natural resources, and by way of cross-border initiatives.

The initiator, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, will provide the Proposal Agreement with basics for its conclusion to the BIH Presidency of further procedure, and Director of the Directorate for European Integrations of BIH Nevenka Savić is proposed as the BIH signatory.

 

JOINT MAINTENANCE AND USE OF BRIDGES BETWEEN BIH AND CROATIA

 

The Council of Ministers defined Proposal Basics for negotiations on an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Croatia on use and maintenance of border road bridges at the joint inter-state border between the two states.

These are seven bridges across the Rivers Sava and Una, and the Agreement will include new bridges to be constructed in meantime.

The Agreement will be concluded for the needs of removing of all previous obstacles and difficulties to the joint maintenance and use of the bridges and for securing a continuous and smooth traffic across the bridges oat border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.

 

 

 

 

 

ANNUAL QUOTE FOR FOREIGERS EMPLOYMENT IN BIH IS 1,886 WORK PERMITS

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on determining an annual quota of work permits for foreigners’ employment in Bosnia and Herzegovina for year 2015.

Total annual quote for extension and new employment of foreigners in BIH for 2015 would be 1,886 work permits, out of which in the f*Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina it will be  890 work permits and in Republika Srpska 800 work permits and in the Brčko District of BIH 196 wok permits.

The annual quota for the extension of already issued work permits will be 1,160, while the annual quote for new employment of foreigners in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be 726 work permits.

 

DISTRICT HEATING PROCJECT GUARANTEE

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision to approve issuing of sovereign guarantees under a Guarantee Contract (for a Loan Contract for Central Heating Project in Prijedor) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

This way a guarantee is issued to the loan which approves to Republika Srpska, i.e. Prijedor Central Heating Utility EUR seven million for reconstruction of the heating boiler. The project is co-financed from a EUR 2 million grant.

The loan funds would be used for construction of a new boiler on biomass for district heating operation, and grant funds will be used to finance consumer heat spending control.

The project is expected to reduce expenditure for fuel form current KM 5.5 million to KM 2.1 million , in addition to improving district heating quality in Prijedor along with resultant positive environmental impact.

The loan term is 15 years, including three-year grace period starting as at the date of signing of the Loan Contract.

Following negotiations, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury will prepare a Proposal Loan, in accordance with the Law on Borrowing, Debt and guarantees of BIH.

 

BIH TO IMPLEMENT CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION MEASURES

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on Supplements to the Decision Establishing an implementation authority for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Kyoto Protocol clean development mechanism projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Thereby Bosnia and Herzegovina launches climate change mitigation measures (National Appropriate Mitigation Actions - NAMA), creates conditions for use of potential loan mechanisms and further improves business environment for new investments in BIH.

Along with earlier started implementation of its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol clean development mechanisms, Bosnia and Herzegovina joins a process of establishment of a conducive environment for a sound and coordinated process of adjustment to climate change in all relevant sectors at all government levels, in private sector and in civil society.

In the past two years its existence, the implementation body for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Kyoto Protocol clean development mechanism projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina (DNA BIH) approved five projects generating a total reduction of about three million CO2 and EUR 350 million investments.

 

TO FINALISE DRAFT ANTO-CORRUPTION STRATEGY BY END OF THIS YEAR

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of Information of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of Fight against Corruption in BIH concerning development of a 2015-2019 Draft Strategy for fight against corruption and the accompanying Action Plan.

The Draft Strategy and action plan should be provided to the Council of Ministers by the end of this year, according to Information which lists all preparatory activities taken to date.

The last workshop was scheduled for early December, aimed at compilation of all commentaries to the Draft Strategy, following which the Agency for Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of Fight against Corruption in BIH will provide the Strategy to the Council of Ministers of BIH for adoption.

 

KM 11 BILLION FOREIGN INVESMTENTS IN BIH BY END OF 2013

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of an Analysis of foreign direct investments to Bosnia and Herzegovina and analysis of global reports relevant for FDI attraction, prepared by the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency.

By the end of 2013, total foreign direct investments amounted to KM 11 billion or EUR 5.6 billion. In total investment amounts, in addition to registered investments from the Russian Federation and increased activities from the Near East, the major investors to BH were still EU and countries from the region, among which Austria at first place. The most significant amount of investments was realised in production sector (32%), followed by banking sector investments (22 %).

Direct Foreign Investment in 2013 amounted to Km 418 million, which represents a 21.7 per cent decrease relative to year 2012. Last year’s investments to Bosnia and Herzegovina came primarily from Serbia (KM 62 million), and then from the Great Britain (KM 56 million), Austria (KM 51 million), Switzerland (KM 44 million), and Germany (KM 40 million). Russia, which was the mayor investor in 2011 and 2012, made a decrease of its capital. The manor investments in 1013 were made in service sector in amount of KM 141.8 million.

According to the Analysis, among necessary conditions for the increase of foreign investments are the creation of market investment policy, creation of favourable, stable, predictable, non-discriminatory and incanting business environment and available natural resources.

 

IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW PUBLIC PROCUREMENT LEGISLATION

 

Upon a proposal of the Agency for Public Procurement, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an Instruction on establishment and operation of qualification system and Instruction on conditions and procedure for sector contracting bodies contract awarding to a subsidiary company, business partner or sector contracting body within business partner, with a view at further harmonisation with relevant EU Directive regulating public procurement contract awarding in the so-called utilities sector.

The instructions will define more precisely new ways of procurement, introduced by the law on Public Procurement, to be followed by sector contracting bodies in the areas of water supply, energy, transport and postal services.

 

 

 

 

INTEGRATED BORDER MANAGEMENT NEW STRATEGY BY DECEMBER 31, 2014

 

Upon a proposal of the State Committee for Border Management, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on appointment of a work group tasked to develop a 2014-2017 Integrated Border Management Strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its Action Plan by December 31, 2014.

The work group will be headed by Ismail Sarić from the Ministry of Security of BIH, and it will include representatives from the competent State, Entity and Brčko District of BIH institutions.

 

ADMISSION TO CITIZENSHIP

 

The Council of Ministers took individual resolutions on admission to citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina as follows: Anes Lučina, citizen of Montenegro and prospective member of Judo National Selection; Marijan Antolović, citizen of the Republic of Croatia and prospective member of Soccer National Selection; Ismail Yapici, citizen of the Republic of Turkey, Director of ‘Bosna Sema’ education institutions in BIH; prof. Filip Zloušić, citizen of the Republic of Austria, President of the Croatian Cultural Society ‘Napredak’ in Austria. The BIH citizenship is granted also to Dimitrij Vukolov, Russian citizen and economic expert, holder of Ph.D. in oil networks; Diego Moscheni, citizen of Italy and honorary consul of BIH in Trevis since 2009; Elena Mitrović, Russian citizen and financial expert; Secouba Diatta, citizen of Senegal and professional soccer player; Marijana Reljić, citizen of the Republic of Croatia and school professor; and Timothy Clancy, US citizen, and author of several books on Bosnia and Herzegovina and promoter in BIH tourism abroad.

 

CONSENT FOR VOTE TO CITIZENS OF CROATIA AND JAPAN IN BIH

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent for vote by citizens of the Republic of Croatia in BIH at the up-coming presidential elections to take place on December 28, 204 in the first round, and possible on January 11, 2015 in the run-off. Citizens of Croatia may vote at 15 polling stations in diplomatic-consular offices of the Republic of Croatia in BIH territory in time from 7.00 to 19.00 hrs.

Also, on the occasion of general elections, consent was granted for vote of citizens of Japan in BIH on December 3-6 this year in time between 9.30 and 17.00 hrs in the premises of the Embassy of Japan in Sarajevo.

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